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What the Microsoft-LinkedIn deal means for the Middle East

Microsoft announced a $26.2bn acquisition of LinkedIn earlier this week

Powerful blast outside Beirut bank

There have been no reports of casualties so far

Iran says 80% of oil contracts with Europe are operational

Iran plans to sell 600,000 to 800,000 barrels per day to European buyers

Gulf states drop down Global Peace Index

Saudi Arabia fell from 95 in 2015 to 129 this year, while the UAE went from 49 to 61

Gulf investors urged to hedge their bets as Brexit vote looms

The British pound could fall “perhaps sharply” if the UK votes to leave the European Union

Saudi-Egypt causeway to enable 30 minute cross border travel

Plans for the crossing were revived during King Salman’s visit to Egypt in April

Oil up on Saudi, Russia meeting

Have low oil prices changed the GCC’s spending patterns?

Diversification remains the key element for GCC countries in the current climate

Iranians will be unable to perform haj this year

Iran has refused to sign a deal with Saudi for haj arrangements

Defence partnerships can boost economic and regional security

Regional governments should be prioritising defence industrial partnerships, writes Ivor Ichikowitz

Why GCC companies should implement job levelling

Regional companies can help their employees improve their career paths

Starz Play Arabia says ‘positive impact’ from rival Netflix’s launch

Online video streaming service Starz Play Arabia launched a year ago

Iran denies oil discount rumours

Iran has no plans to freeze oil exports, official says

A meeting of the OPEC exporters’ group, including Iran, is scheduled for June 2

EgyptAir crash: Submarine to be sent to look for remains

The crash of the Airbus 320 jet on Thursday killed all 66 people on board

ISIL calls for attacks in US, Europe during Ramadan

The message was revealed in a audio clip, purporting to be from Abu Muhammad al-Adnani

EgyptAir crash: Investigators say too soon to draw conclusions

Investigators are assessing material from air traffic control, aircraft and crew documents

EgyptAir crash: First images of debris released

The items found so far include parts of the aircraft marked EgyptAir

Flight data showed smoke alerts on EgyptAir jet before crash

CNN said it obtained the data through a screen grab from an Egyptian source

Why French navy shipbuilder DCNS is eyeing the GCC

As GCC countries seek to strengthen their defence capabilities, DCNS says it is ready and waiting to sign deals

EgyptAir MS804 crash: Human remains, belongings found at sea

The EgyptAir jet crashed into the Mediterranean sea with 66 people on board

Update: EgyptAir MS804 passenger belongings found

The plane, which had 66 people on board, crashed on Thursday

Egypt, Lebanon

Saudi, Kuwaiti on board missing EgyptAir flight

The aircraft disappeared off the radar on early Thursday morning

Update: French President confirms EgyptAir MS804 crash

The plane was carrying 56 passengers along with three security personnel and seven cabin crew

Ikea opens first Middle East distribution centre in Dubai

The company said it would take more than 10,000 steps to walk around the new facility, which is the size of 20 football pitches

‘If you’re innocent, you’ll go to heaven after you’re hanged’ – Iranian judge

The judge’s remarks were made to Reza Hosseini who was later hanged for drug offences

Iran arrests fashion models, blog manager in social media crackdown

Tehran’s supreme leader has declared war against ‘un-Islamic thoughts’ on the internet

Twitter, Facebook usage drops in Arab region – survey

​Regional social media users growing wary of privacy concerns

GCC education spending reaches $50bn but teacher shortage looms

Despite increasing demand, Alpen Capital said the region faced the second highest teaching shortage in the world

Saudi Arabia to invest billions of dollars in Jordan

A joint coordination council is being set up to target the investment

GCC residents to require e-visa for UAE from Friday

The new rules are designed to reduce queues at border points

New internet cables to bring better speeds, prices to UAE

Four new cables are expected to land at the country this year